England explain changes for Wales, including Tommy Freeman switch

Steve Borthwick has insisted that England will play with ambition and courage against Wales in Cardiff in their determination to become Guinness Six Nations champions. Borthwick has made four changes in personnel and three positional switches for Saturday’s clash, including recalling Marcus Smith at full-back and giving Tommy Freeman a first Test start at outside centre.

England’s head coach also revealed that he sees fly-half Fin Smith as a future option at inside centre, a position that will be filled by flanker Ben Earl if there is an injury to Fraser Dingwall at the Principality Stadium.

Of more immediate concern, however, is ensuring his side fulfil their part of the title-winning equation – securing a try-scoring bonus point and lifting their points difference as high as possible.

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France are strong favourites and would snatch Ireland’s crown if they dispatch Scotland in the climax to ‘Super Saturday’, but Borthwick wants England to be in a position to capitalise in the event of an upset in Paris with the Irish also in the hunt.

“Our aspiration is to win the tournament. That has always been the way we want to go and that has not changed. The team is really clear on what we need to do to put ourselves in that position,” Borthwick said.

Six Nations

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

France

4

3

1

0

16

2

England

4

3

1

0

15

3

Ireland

4

3

1

0

14

4

Scotland

4

2

2

0

11

5

Italy

4

1

3

0

4

6

Wales

4

0

4

0

3

“Every England supporter would be expecting us to say that is what we aim to do and that is exactly what we aim to do. We want to do it by playing fast and by getting the ball to our players with strength and pace and athleticism. That is exactly how we want to play this weekend.”

Tom Roebuck’s selection on the right wing, Luke Cowan-Dickie’s promotion to the front row and Ben Curry’s recall at openside completes the new arrivals, with Borthwick performing extensive surgery on his team despite the seven-try rout of Italy.

Ollie Lawrence’s ruptured achilles, which will see him undergo surgery next week and is likely to rule him out until next season, has forced Borthwick’s hand in midfield, but Ollie Sleightholme, Jamie George and Tom Willis have all been axed.

The flux in midfield that began with Henry Slade being dropped against Italy continues with Freeman’s move from wing to outside centre being undertaken sooner than initially planned because of Lawrence’s injury.

“Tommy has moved to 13 within many games and he always has been covering that centre position a lot for us,” Borthwick said of the 24-year-old, 19-cap wing. “With the athleticism he has, the ground he covers and the power he brings in the carry, he has always been that option. He has grown to become a formidable Test player.”

A second Northampton Saint is being considered for a positional switch with Fin Smith seen as having the qualities to play at fly-half and inside centre as a solution to England’s long-standing lack of depth in the number 12 jersey.

“Everyone can see what a standout defender Fin is and I see a point in time when he would be able to be a 10 and 12 for us as well,” Borthwick said. Henry Pollock, the 20-year-old Northampton flanker, could make his debut off the bench while George Ford makes his first appearance in a match day 23 in this Six Nations by being picked among the replacements.